My great grandfather was called John Cross, born in June 1880 in Tamworth, Staffs/Warks. He married Helen Clempson, born 12 Nov 1883 in Amington, Warks.
I have been trying for ages to definitely identify John Cross' parents. I have is a first name, approximate age and DOB for his mother from the 1881, 1891, and 1901 censuses. I am certain that this is the correct Emma, since my grandmother remembers the children from her second marriage:
Emma Unknown, born approx. 1852 in Tamworth Staffs/Warks
Emma remarried in 1887 after her husband's death. Her 2nd husband was called Thomas HILL (mistranscribed HIRE in 1891)
John Cross is listed as living with his mother Emma and step-father Thomas in 1891 and 1901.
I've also found the following entry in the 1881 census:
William CROSS, born approx. 1852 in Corley, Warks (Corley is about 20km from Tamworth), BAKER by profession
Emma CROSS, born approx. 1852 in Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Henry CROSS, born approx. 1872, Harrogate, Yorks
Mary Ellen CROSS, born approx. 1874, Harrogate, Yorks
Maud CROSS, born approx. 1877, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
John CROSS, born approx. 1880, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Again, this is definitely the correct family - the children appear on later censuses with Emma and her second husband, along with their half-siblings who are in living memory (of my grandmother).
I can't track down William and Emma before this. The children aren't any help, because all were born after 1871.
The only possible entry I can find is in the right area - Yorkshire - where the two eldest children were born, but the first name of the husband is wrong and the ages are out:
Charles CROSS, born approx. 1847, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks, MASON'S LABOURER by profession
Emma CROSS, born approx. 1848, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Also, is it really likely that someone would go from being a labourer to a baker within 10 years in those days? I'm guessing not...
Note that the family moved back to Tamworth. I have found a death registration for a William Cross in Tamworth in 1883 aged 37. This would put his date of birth around 1846. The census record for 1881 puts 'my' William at around 1852. However, I can't find a better match. I can't find a marriage for either a William or a Charles Cross with an Emma for the relevant time period (i.e. before 1872 when the first child was born) either in Tamworth or in North Yorkshire.
Can anyone help? It's driving me up the wall!
TIA,
Zoe
I have been trying for ages to definitely identify John Cross' parents. I have is a first name, approximate age and DOB for his mother from the 1881, 1891, and 1901 censuses. I am certain that this is the correct Emma, since my grandmother remembers the children from her second marriage:
Emma Unknown, born approx. 1852 in Tamworth Staffs/Warks
Emma remarried in 1887 after her husband's death. Her 2nd husband was called Thomas HILL (mistranscribed HIRE in 1891)
John Cross is listed as living with his mother Emma and step-father Thomas in 1891 and 1901.
I've also found the following entry in the 1881 census:
William CROSS, born approx. 1852 in Corley, Warks (Corley is about 20km from Tamworth), BAKER by profession
Emma CROSS, born approx. 1852 in Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Henry CROSS, born approx. 1872, Harrogate, Yorks
Mary Ellen CROSS, born approx. 1874, Harrogate, Yorks
Maud CROSS, born approx. 1877, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
John CROSS, born approx. 1880, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Again, this is definitely the correct family - the children appear on later censuses with Emma and her second husband, along with their half-siblings who are in living memory (of my grandmother).
I can't track down William and Emma before this. The children aren't any help, because all were born after 1871.
The only possible entry I can find is in the right area - Yorkshire - where the two eldest children were born, but the first name of the husband is wrong and the ages are out:
Charles CROSS, born approx. 1847, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks, MASON'S LABOURER by profession
Emma CROSS, born approx. 1848, Tamworth, Staffs/Warks
Also, is it really likely that someone would go from being a labourer to a baker within 10 years in those days? I'm guessing not...
Note that the family moved back to Tamworth. I have found a death registration for a William Cross in Tamworth in 1883 aged 37. This would put his date of birth around 1846. The census record for 1881 puts 'my' William at around 1852. However, I can't find a better match. I can't find a marriage for either a William or a Charles Cross with an Emma for the relevant time period (i.e. before 1872 when the first child was born) either in Tamworth or in North Yorkshire.
Can anyone help? It's driving me up the wall!
TIA,
Zoe
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